Though we usually don’t really give it much thought, the outdoor décor of our homes is just as important as the interior (if not more!). This is so because the outdoor appearance is the first thing someone has of our home, and as such has a huge role in the value of the home altogether. If you want to be the example of what ideal outdoor décor is, and increase your home’s value at that, it’s time to invest in the curb appeal.
Of course, this is a broad term, and it can be confusing as to where to start. Fret not, there’s always nature’s beauty to help, all you need is the right plants. It’s needless to say you’d want something that would look great year-round, and for that, you can count on evergreens. The perfect example is the Trachelospermum jasminoides Star Jasmine widely known as the plant that has it all.
This versatile plant, charming with its star shaped flowers with sweet scents, and lush foliage, is a climber, and can be trained as a hedge, used as a ground cover (helpful with weed problems), as an espalier against walls, over an arbour, or rumbling down an embankment. Though according to the look of the flowers one might think it’s a true jasmine, the Trachelospermum jasminoides Star Jasmine is in fact in the same group as oleander, vinca, and adenium.
Having in mind it can grow up to 30’, it’s important to take care of supporting it as soon as possible to prevent it from flopping back. This is how the training process begins, or in other words, the guiding, by attaching it to surfaces, in case you don’t want to use it as a ground cover. It adapts well to both warm and cold temperatures, but have in mind it requires some protection from extremely hot summers, so if there’s more direct sun it’s getting, it’s going to need more water to thrive well.
While it’s not one of the plants that do well with drought, it’s not one that needs all that water either (except, as mentioned, in sun exposure), so you wouldn’t have too much trouble watering it twice a week, or every 10 days. As for the soil, as long as there’s enough drainage, it’s all good. In case it is grown in containers, you could do with the use of organic potting soil. As for pruning, it’s best done right after flowering.
Wanting to ensure the proper growth of this beautiful plant, you wouldn’t have to buy resort to chemical-based fertilizers, but use your own organic compost created from the organic leftovers in your kitchen!
